"I won't let them make me a victim"

Damian BathersbyA journalist for more than 25 years, Damian Bathersby takes a completely irreverent look at life in his weekly blog Through My Eyes. The twice-married father of four and stepfather of two refuses to take things too seriously because he reckons taking cheap shots at life is the only thing that keeps him sane these days.

KIM Schmith knew she had two choices after she was caught up in a daring daylight robbery at a Mt Coolum supermarket two weeks ago.

She could allow herself to become a victim or move on with her life.

She chose to not only move on but also put her energy into helping someone worse off.

The 36-year-old nightshift supervisor was behind the counter of the Mt Coolum IGA when two men walked in and stole money from the till.

They also walked out with two charity tins - one of them containing money collected to help cancer patient Symmon Sidney (pictured) who may have only months to live.

"It put things in perspective," Kim said of the November 16 robbery.

"I was serving a lady when they came in and one of them pushed me out of the way and reached into the till.

"When I realised they had taken the collection tins it upset me terribly because we were trying very hard to help Symmon.

"One of the girls from work had contributed a day's pay, so it was very close to our hearts."

After a couple of days off work, Kim returned determined to organise a fundraising day to help Symmon.

"I was really scared and confronted by what happened, but it also brought new values to the forefront and made me realise what's important in life and what's not," she said.

"I was very anxious when I came back to work. It was nerve-racking because I was waiting for something bad to happen.

"Away from work I've been finding it hard to sleep and have been seeing a psychologist.

"But a couple of days after the robbery, when I had time to stop and think, I decided I wasn't going to let them (the thieves) beat me; that I was going to have control of my life.

"I also realised that Symmon had much bigger things to overcome and instead of focusing on myself, I could do something to help."

Kim only knew Symmon as a regular customer at the supermarket but has since met her while organising today's fundraiser.

"She came in to see me because she was quite concerned about how I was after what happened," she said.

"It was so lovely that she should be concerned about me when she has so much going on in her own life and I think that made me more determined to help her."

Symmon will be special guest at the IGA store during today's fundraising which will include entertainment, a sausage sizzle, massages and giant raffle of donated items including a pink surfboard signed by Coolum professional surfer Julian Wilson.

IGA store owner Roz White said she had been inundated by offers of help since the robbery.

"The outpouring from the community has been overwhelming," she said.

"They have been rocked by what happened and we hope that by bringing everyone together we can really make a difference."